Lightening The Color Of Wood

Every day I receive e-mail from people asking my advise on everything from how to
repair a damaged piece of veneered furniture to can I apply a finish to my computer
keyboard. One of the most often asked questions is  I have a piece of
furniture that is too dark and I want to re-stain it to a lighter color, what color stain
should I use? Most people expect me to reply by saying, no problem, just go
out and buy a can of golden oak stain, brush on a couple of coats over the darker color
and slap on a coat of polyurethane over the stain. However, many people are surprised by
my reply, which is usually  you need to strip off the existing finish and you
probably have to bleach out the all color and apply a new stain. Their reply is usually,
oh no, that sounds like too much work, there has to be an easier way.
Unfortunately, sometimes there is no easy or easier way, and many people do not believe or
want to believe what I have told them. Its just a shame that some of these people go
through a lot of wasted work and time just to find out that I was correct and they should
have listened to me.

There are a number of ways to actually lighten the color of a piece of furniture, but
applying a lighter stain over an existing darker color usually does not work. You see all
stains are somewhat transparent so the grain of the wood can show through. Some stains,
like dyes are so transparent that if you apply a very light color dye to a dark piece of
wood, it will actually make the wood darker instead of lighter in the same way a clear
lacquer will actually slightly darken a piece of cherry or walnut when it is applied to
the surface.

Staining will work once in a while depending upon the initial color of the wood (how
dark), how lighter you want to make it and if you use a semi-transparent (pigmented
stain). Unlike dyes, pigmented stains are not as transparent. In fact, a pigmented stain
is actually a thinned down paint. We all know that you can paint over a darker color using
a lighter color paint. This is because there is so much pigment in the paint that it
blocks out the color you are painting over. A pigmented stain will also block out the
color it is being applied over, but not all of it. In order for the lighter pigmented
stain to block out all the darker color there would have to be so much pigment in the
stain that it would not only block out the darker color but also hide all the grain of the
wood, just like a paint. Now, it may start to make sense.

If you have a piece that you wish to make slightly lighter and dont mind giving
up some of the woods grain that is showing, you could apply a pigmented stain that
is slightly lighter than the existing color. When I say slightly, I mean just that.
Remember its best to apply multiple lighter coats than one thick coat. Once you have
achieved the color you desire, let the stain dry very well and then apply a topcoat finish
like varnish, lacquer or polyurethane over it to seal. The application of the topcoat may
change the color slightly, in any case its always best to run a test on a small,
inconspicuous spot before attempting to do the whole piece. REMEMBER TO RUN THE TEST FROM
START TO FINISH (STAIN TO TOPCOAT) BEFORE YOU DO THE WHOLE PIECE, THIS WAY YOU WILL KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT AND IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT, YOU CAN ALWAYS TOUCH UP THE SMALL TEST SPOT.

The best, and sometimes only way to lighten the color involves more time and effort.
First, you have to remove (strip off) the existing finish. Usually the best way to do this
is to use a paint and varnish remover. If the piece has been built within the last 50
years and the original finish still remains, you may be surprised to find that most or all
of the color will come off when you remove the finish. This is because many furniture
manufactures added the color right into the finish they used. This was usually lacquer or
varnish.

Once the finish has been removed, the next step is to wash the whole piece down with
mineral spirits. This will remove any traces of the paint and varnish remover that may
have been left on the surface. At this point, if you feel the color is light enough, all
you need to do is apply a clear topcoat. However, if the color is still too dark or if the
wood appears blotchy with lighter and darker spots, your next step is to bleach.

Bleaches are highly reactive chemicals that break down the color(s) in the wood. There
are basically three types of chemicals most commonly used to bleach wood, Oxalic acid,
Sodium hypochlorite and a two part A/B wood bleach. Oxalic acid is a good choice for
removing stains in wood, but is very poisonous. Sodium hypochlorite usually works well on
aniline dye, but once again is dangerous in inexperienced hands. The two part A/B wood
bleach is what I use and the one I suggest you try. It is by far the most effective all
around and easiest to use, however, (like any chemical) you must still take great care
when using this or any other bleach or wood lightner.

NOTE: BLEACH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF NOT HANDLED PROPERLY. FOLLOW THE
MANUFACTURES INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. NEVER MIX BLEACH WITH ANOTHER CHEMICAL AND
ALWAYS WORK WITH A FRESH BATCH. WHEN WORKING WITH BLEACH OR ANY OTHER CHEMICALS, ALWAYS
WEAR PROPER SAFETY PROTECTION SUCH AS RUBBER GLOVES, EYE PROTECTION, RESPIRATOR, PROTECT
SKIN FROM CONTACT. REFER TO MANUFACTURES INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPECIFICATIONS ON PROPER
SAFETY PROTECTION. REMEMBER, BLEACH WILL MOST LIKELY REMOVE THE WOODS NATURAL COLOR,
SO YOU WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO USE SOME TYPE OF STAIN TO GIVE THE WOOD COLOR AFTER THE
BLEACHING PROCESS.

Applying The Bleach. After the finish has been removed and the whole piece washed down
with mineral spirits, let it dry well for a couple days. Using a paint brush, apply a
generous, even coat of part A of the two part wood bleach. Let this stand for about 5 or
10 minutes (best to refer to directions for amount of time). Dont worry if the wood
starts to look darker, it will lighten up when you apply part B. Next, apply part B in the
same manner as you applied part A. The color should gradually start to lighten as the
bleach dries. Let the piece sit for at least 4 hours and then wash down with a solution of
50 percent white vinegar and 50 percent water. This will neutralize any chemicals in the
bleach left on the wood. Allow to dry at least overnight. Two part wood bleach is usually
strong enough to lighten the wood sufficiently in one application, however, if wood needs
to be lightened further, repeat the process.

Once the piece is dry, you will notice that the grain is very rough. It has been raised
by the water in the bleach and the wash down. Next step is to sand down the whole piece
with 120 grit paper, then finish sand using 180 or 220 grit paper. Finally, choose a
re-stain with color of your choice and finish in manner you wish.

Two Part Wood Bleach and other finishing materials can be purchased through
Constantine's. 1 800 223 8087 See Sources Back On My Homepage.